Srinagar: An engineer-turned-entrepreneur is aiming to “reinvent the spices market in Kashmir” by introducing in the market 40 types of spices, many of them unknown to Kashmiris.
The ambitious entrepreneur, Fadel Buch, has started with 16 traditional species, which include chilly, turmeric, cardamom, funnel, etc, but plans to add many more from Indian and foreign cuisines.
“I have begun with regular spices but I am working to sell 40 by the end of this year,” he told Kashmir Reader.
Buch sells his spices under the brand name ‘Urban Spices’, which has been in business for nearly a year now. His spices come from a company certified for high quality, which processes and packages them in Mumbai. Buch receives his consignment at his office in city centre Lal Chowk, and delivers it to customers through direct marketing as well as through some designated stores.
Buch was earlier working at a spices company after completing BTech in electrical and renewable engineering. His interest in engineering had faded even while he was studying at Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University. He eventually decided to be a businessman and joined a spices company. He still is learning about spices, having designated a specific time in the day to learn about the product, its market, and customer preferences.
“I just want to reinvent the species market in Kashmir, and give a new blend to it,” he said.
The 26-year-old Buch is trying to make his niche in the Rs 1,300 crore spices market in Kashmir. His ambition is to make Urban Spices a pan-India brand, for which he has already begun making arrangements with mega retail shops.
Born to parents who are both government employees, Buch had a tough time convincing his mom and dad about his dream of becoming a merchant of spices. His father wanted him to become a bureaucrat, but Buch felt no inclination to do so.
“I only like to work for myself and I am happy at it,” he said. “Though it is not easy for me. I face challenges in the market as well as at home and in society. But judgemental people won’t make any difference to me. We have a lot of engineers and bureaucrats; the time is to have many businessmen, too.”
In just a year, Urban Spices has done quite well despite a lockdown of many months in Kashmir, which has made him delay his plans for hiring more staff.

Junaid Nabi Bazaz